Breathe...

BREATHING LESSONS

Pulsating through my chest and out my nose–

that’s the way my life flows.

In and out is each breath I take serving

as a sign of life when I’m sleep and when I’m awake.

Pull it in deep and then blow real hard. 

Keep that pace going and fill it in your heart. 

Keep your mind clear and your soul at ease

when you follow the breathing lessons that I’m trying to teach.

Do it in the car and when you’re at work. 

Do it when you’re feeling good and when it really hurts. 

Take it in now as much as you can. 

Touch your chest and feel it expand.

Our skin starts to tingle as life flows through

as breath makes it way over me and you. 

Close your eyes and focus on the sensation. 

Take a minute to meditate and send your mind on vacation.

Lessons in breathing take you beyond–

signaling fear and increasing during fun.

I didn’t always know how to breathe. 

I would take a deep gasp and hold it inside of me.

I would restrict its power and my chest would get tight. 

This is what happens when your breathing is not right. 

This is what happens when you stop life’s flow

instead of relaxing and letting it go.

Now breathe because you have no choice.  
It’s your way of speaking when you have no voice.   
Show some indication that you are alive.  
Take a deep breath and see how you thrive.

My grandmother breathed easy without much care.   
She moved through life like she was floating on air.  
I didn’t know she was giving me a breathing lesson--
lips barely parted with her hands folded and rested. 
Exemplifying the ease at which it takes 
to quiet doubts and mend the breaks.

My other grandmother told me that’s how I came to be.   
God took my body and in it He breathed.   
So when you inhale and exhale notice your breath 
and realize God is dwelling in your chest.

Lessons in breathing tell us that in the end 
we take one last breath and  _our ^souls _fly ^away _on ^the <sub>wind. 

--copyright 2012 

[Taken from my book, After the Sixth Day: Notes from a Spiritual Journey]</sub>